But Packwood is more used to playing centre-half, from where he has captained Blues under-21 development side this season.

Hurst, from Sutton Coldfield, came through the ranks at Albion but left for Portsmouth only to return to the Baggies two years later, in 2010.

He has only made three senior appearances at the Hawthorns, but has had loan spells at Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town and Chesterfield.

Hurst is considered a very quick full-back who likes to attack, the type Clark likes.

Clark had said that he might have to move players out to bring players in, but it seems that in Hurst's and left-back Paul Robinson's cases - the free agent signed a month's contract last week - were deemed exceptions because of defensive injury problems.

Meanwhile, Ravel Morrison started for Blues development side at Wigan Athletic today in order to get some game time under his belt.